Provider Spotlight
“After giving birth, I fell into a deep depression due to the lack of information from my medical providers and family environment. It took me a long time to get proper treatment. I stopped taking medicine when the baby turned one year old. my son, and two years later, I was discharged from psychotherapy for a perinatal issue. Even after I was discharged, I did not understand what I had gone through. I preferred to remain silent about this traumatic experience. I was ashamed, and I didn’t pay attention to it”.
It started Analía Sierra’s path to becoming a mother, therapeutic companion, founder, and current president of the NGO Materna en Red in Argentina. Analía’s experience led her to look for answers, and four years after her son’s arrival, in the comments of an online article, she found other mothers talking about their symptoms. This discovery greatly relieved Analía: “I immediately started opening up about my story, symptoms, and treatment. I realized that the trauma I experienced had value. It helped me understand that my story can help others”.
This discovery encouraged Analía to tell her story openly on social networks so that “at least the mothers who received my story could be better understood, accompanied, empowered, that they are not alone.”
After that, Analía immersed herself in the world of perinatal mental health; later she met members of the Marcé Society of Spain and Wendy Davis of Postpartum Support International, which led her to contact other perinatal professionals. After these steps, he developed the interdisciplinary working group Materna en Red. In addition to developing Materna en Red, Analía is pursuing a degree in Perinatal Psychology at the University of Buenos Aires and serves as a PSI International volunteer coordinator for Argentina.
“I think my experience of going through postpartum depression and experiencing the symptoms of depression and anxiety firsthand has given me a certain sensitivity to accompany mothers better. And at the same time, working with children gives me a unique experience to make up for some lost moments in my postpartum period.”
The personalized therapeutic companionship that Analía offers to both mothers and babies in their home is unique and offers remarkable depth in how she supports families going through experiences similar to hers in the postpartum period.
“You must be flexible enough to adapt to the needs of each mother and baby without losing focus on either one or prioritizing one over the other. Be flexible enough to adapt to each context and always be open to observing and rethinking work goals according to the signs each family exhibits.And I never stop learning from each family I work with.
In addition to the important work she does, Analía enjoys meditation, exercise, and interacting with nature on weekends. Gatherings with family and friends are part of the activities that help him take care of himself.
For us, it is a joy to have Analía as part of our team of volunteer coordinators, and to see the hard work she is doing, together with her amazing team of professionals at Materna, fills us with hope in our shared goal to help more mothers and families around the world.
You can contact him and learn more about his work through his networks:
IG: @sierra.analia | Email: sierraanalia@live.com.ar
IG: @maternaenred | Email: saludmentalmaterna@gmail.com
Web: https://materna.org.ar/
Volunteer Spotlight
As Roderick Drew, PSI Board Member, looks at the expansion of Postpartum Support International, he is amazed at the organization’s growth over the past five years. Roderick is based in Chicago, IL, and joined the PSI Board of Directors in January 2023. “I was surprised and honored when I was actually called to gauge interest in joining the board,” he shared.
Roderick learned about PSI from a friend after they shared their personal parenting stories. These conversations intrigued him and made him want to learn more. 
“I have been amazed at how the organization has grown in size, reach, and awareness. Learning about all the different ways the organization and the Board have impacted the country, and the world, by supporting efforts to shed light, provide resources, and change the discussion about postpartum depression and mental health. It is truly an honor to support their advancement efforts!”
Outside of serving on the PSI Board of Directors, Roderick is a Communications and Diversity professional with nearly 30 years of experience and a proud father of a 13-year-old and 9-year-old twins. For the past nine years, he served as Deputy Program Manager at HNTB Corporation, and prior to that, he worked for the City of Chicago in various communications and strategy roles.
Laughter is one of Roderick’s main ways of taking care of himself, and he has a history of telling corny dad jokes that draw groans from his family and friends. Additionally, jokingly, Roderick enjoys writing and reading about history and is a huge Chicago sports fan, “except for the Cubs—sorry.” She found socializing with friends, volunteering in diversity efforts in her community, and spending quality time with her children necessary to revitalize and maintain a healthy balance in her life.
Roderick, thank you for turning your interest in learning more about perinatal mental health into a way to serve others. If you are interested in connecting with Roderick, please contact him by email at rdrew5992@yahoo.com.
If you’d like to learn more about the providers and volunteers who are part of the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color or the program’s events and initiatives, subscribe to The Alliance’s newsletter today.
